Manchester United News: Coutinho, Sancho

Agents Make Contact Over Coutinho

Manchester United have been contacted over a possible move for the Barcelona midfielder Phillippe Coutinho.

The Independent claims that ‘intermediaries’ have been in touch with the Premier League side over a summer deal for the Brazilian.

Coutinho has failed to nail down a permanent place in the first-team starting line-up at the Nou Camp since his £105million move from Liverpool in January 2018. Head coach Ernesto Valverde sometimes prefers Ousmane Dembele or even the veteran Chile international Arturo Vidal.

Any report about intermediaries becoming involved ought to be taken with a huge pinch of salt. Often, these are just agents with no connection at all with either club or with the player. However, they try and get the wheels rolling on the deal in the hope of taking a cut of the commissions at the end of it.

United ‘Will Make Move’ For Sancho

Meanwhile, The Independent also claims that Manchester United will make a move for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho this summer.

The England international winger has had a superb season at Dortmund and is being linked with a move back to the Premier League just two years after leaving Manchester City in an £8.5million deal.

United are keen on Sancho over Coutinho as they want a player who can play further forward. The Independent claims the Premier League side are prepared to pay £80million for the teenager – he turns 19 later this month – although Dortmund will hold out for closer to £100million.

The Bundesliga side are keen for Sancho to remain with them for one more season for his game to develop further before making a move back to England in 2020.

Solskjaer Holding Back On Defender

The Sun reports that Old Gunnar Solskjaer is willing to give his defenders a chance to prove themselves between now and the end of the season.

United’s flaky defence has tightened up since the Norwegian arrived at Old Trafford in December and with a winger now looking to be a more pressing priority Solskjaer wants to hold back in the pursuit of a centre-back.

Manchester United have been linked with Napoli’s Khalidou Koulibaly. However, the Serie A club value the Senegal international at over £100million.

Harry Maguire of Leicester City was linked last summer but United’s board weren’t convinced at the prospect of paying £65million on the strength of a good performance at the World Cup.